Piezo pump and pressurized circuit provided therewith

ABSTRACT

A piezo pump for use in a pressurized circuit includes a pump chamber with an inlet provided with a one way inlet valve, for connection to a feeding line of the pressurized circuit and an outlet provided with a one way outlet valve, for connection to a discharge line of the pressurized circuit and a piezo pump diaphragm closing one end of the pump chamber. A pressure chamber, which can function as a second pump chamber if desired, is defined at the side of the piezo pump diaphragm facing away from the pump chamber, wherein said pressure chamber is connected to a pressure source, which may be the feeding line.

BACKGROUND

The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Aspects of the invention relate to the field of piezo pumps for use in a pressurized circuit, comprising a pump chamber with an inlet provided with a one way inlet valve, for connection to a feeding line of the pressurized circuit and an outlet provided with a one way outlet valve, for connection to a discharge line of the pressurized circuit and a piezo pump diaphragm closing one end of the pump chamber.

In such a piezo pump the piezo pump diaphragm is the driving element which, when connected to an alternate current, vibrates for alternatingly sucking fluid through the one way inlet valve into the pump chamber and forcing the fluid through the one way outlet valve out of the pump chamber. Although such a piezo pump with a very simple design effectively achieves a pump action, the use of such a piezo pump in a pressurized circuit may lead to problems with respect to the seal between the piezo pump diaphragm and a surrounding wall of the pump chamber. Whereas achieving an appropriate seal already is difficult because of the vibrations of the piezo pump diaphragm, the fact that the fluid in the pump chamber is pressurized increases the risk of leakages between the surrounding wall of the pump chamber and the piezo pump diaphragm.

SUMMARY

This Summary and the Abstract herein are provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary and the Abstract are not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor are they intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the Background.

A piezo pump includes a pressure chamber defined at the side of the piezo pump diaphragm facing away from the pump chamber, wherein said pressure chamber is connected to a pressure source.

The pressure in the pressure chamber at least partially compensates the pressure in the pump chamber, as a result of which the pressure difference over the piezo pump diaphragm is reduced and, consequently, the forces acting on the piezo pump diaphragm are reduced. This will substantially reduce the risk of leakages.

In one embodiment of the piezo pump the pressure source is defined by the feeding line which is connected to the pressure chamber via a pressure line. Such an embodiment offers the advantage that the pressure at both sides of the piezo pump diaphragm always will be substantially the same, thus minimising any pressure difference over said piezo pump diaphragm. Moreover such an embodiment only requires a connection between the feeding line and the pressure chamber, but not a separate pressure source, because the feeding line will act as such.

However, in an alternative embodiment of the piezo pump the pressure source may be defined by a pressurized vessel (or an equivalent pressure source).

The invention also relates to a piezo pump assembly comprising at least two piezo pumps connected to each other in series, wherein the outlet of a previous piezo pump is connected to the inlet of a following piezo pump. This allows to achieve an increased pressure difference.

With respect to such a piezo pump assembly an embodiment is conceivable in which the pressure source of at least the first piezo pump is defined by the feeding line and wherein the pressure source of at least the last piezo pump is defined by the discharge line which is connected to the pressure chamber of said last piezo pump via an additional pressure line.

Thus, in such an embodiment not only the feeding line, but also the discharge line acts as a pressure source for the pressure chamber to which it is connected. One large advantage offered by such an embodiment is, that the risk of an hydraulic short circuit over the series of piezo pumps is substantially reduced compared to a situation in which also the pressure chamber of the last piezo pump is connected to the feeding line. In the latter case a failure of only two members (the one way outlet valve and the piezo pump diaphragm of the last piezo pump) is sufficient to cause a short circuit (a connection between the feeding line and discharge line), whereas in the former case a failure of four elements (both the one way inlet and outlet valves of the last piezo pump and the one way outlet valve with the one way inlet valve or with the piezo pump diaphragm of the first piezo pump) is required to cause a short circuit (for more than two piezo pumps connected in series an equivalent situation applies).

If there are exactly two piezo pumps connected to each other in series in such an assembly, the pressure chamber of the first piezo pump will be connected to the feeding line and the pressure chamber of the second piezo pump will be connected to the discharge line.

In embodiments of a piezo pump assembly with more than two piezo pumps connected to each other in series, only the pressure chamber of the last piezo pump may be connected to the discharge line. The pressure chamber of the remaining piezo pumps then all will be connected to the feeding line. Thus the number of pressure chambers connected to the discharge line is kept minimal (one only), which may be advantageous in view of pressure fluctuations which inevitably are present in the discharge line as a result of the operation of the piezo pumps and which could influence the effectiveness of the pressure equalisation over the piezo pump diaphragm (it may be desirable to have a more constant pressure in the pressure chambers and this will be provided by the feeding line in which no or lesser pressure fluctuations occur).

In a special embodiment of the piezo pump according to the present invention it comprises an additional pump chamber at the side of the piezo pump diaphragm opposite the pump chamber, which additional pump chamber likewise is provided with an inlet provided with a one way inlet valve, for connection to the feeding line of the pressurized circuit and an outlet provided with a one way outlet valve, for connection to the discharge line of the pressurized circuit, wherein the piezo pump diaphragm is common for both the pump chamber and the additional pump chamber and wherein the additional pump chamber acts as the pressure chamber.

In such a piezo pump the additional pump chamber not only acts as the pressure chamber, but also helps in pumping the fluid, thus increasing the delivery of the piezo pump. A separate pressure source is not required in such an embodiment, because the feeding line of the additional pump chamber acts as such. It is noted that in such an embodiment the indications pump chamber and additional pump chamber are just a matter of definition and could be switched.

Also in such an embodiment of the piezo pump a piezo pump assembly is conceivable which comprises at least two of such piezo pumps connected to each other in series, wherein the outlets of a previous piezo pump are connected to the inlets of a following piezo pump. The number of piezo pumps connected in series may vary as desired.

The invention also relates to a piezo pump device comprising a number of piezo pumps or piezo pump assemblies according to the present invention connected to each other in parallel. Thus the total delivery may be increased.

For example it is conceivable that in such a piezo pump device each piezo pump or piezo pump assembly has a planar configuration and wherein these piezo pumps or piezo pump assemblies are stacked in a planar fashion to define a pillar like structure.

Finally the invention also relates to a pressurized circuit comprising a piezo pump, piezo pump assembly or piezo pump device according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter aspects of the invention will be elucidated while referring to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a pressurized circuit comprising a first embodiment of the piezo pump;

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a piezo pump assembly comprising two piezo pumps in series;

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a piezo pump assembly comprising three piezo pumps in series;

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a piezo pump having two pump chambers;

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a piezo pump assembly comprising two piezo pumps according to FIG. 4 in series;

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment with two piezo pump assemblies in parallel, and

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a pillar shaped piezo pump device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to FIG. 1 a pressurized circuit for a fluid is illustrated schematically. Such a circuit may, for example, be used as a cooling circuit for electronics 1 in a satellite. The circuit as illustrated further comprises a heat exchanger 2 and possibly an accumulator vessel 3.

For causing a flow of the fluid through the circuit in accordance with the arrows indicated in FIG. 1, a piezo pump 4 is provided which comprises a pump chamber 5 in a pump housing 4A with an inlet 6 provided with a one way inlet valve 7, for connection to a feeding line 8 of the pressurized circuit and an outlet 9 provided with a one way outlet valve 10, for connection to a discharge line 11 of the pressurized circuit.

The piezo pump 4 further is provided with a piezo pump diaphragm 12 that closes one end of the pump chamber 5 and that by control lines 13 is connected to a control unit 14. As a result of electric control signals (for example an alternate current) from the control unit 14 the piezo pump diaphragm 12 will vibrate between two positions (for example 12 and 12′) for alternatingly sucking fluid into the pump chamber 5 through the inlet 6 and forcing fluid out of the pump chamber 5 through the outlet 9.

A pressure chamber 15 in the pump housing 4A is defined at the side of the piezo pump diaphragm 12 facing away from the pump chamber 5 and this pressure chamber 15 is connected to the feeding line 8 via a pressure line 16. As an alternative the pressure chamber 15 may be connected directly to a pressurized vessel 17 or another pressure source. The pressure in the pressure chamber 15 (or pressure vessel 17) at least partially compensates the pressure in the pump chamber 5, as a result of which the pressure difference over the piezo pump diaphragm 12 is reduced and, consequently, the forces acting on the piezo pump diaphragm 12 are reduced. This will substantially reduce the risk of leakages past said diaphragm.

FIG. 2 illustrates a piezo pump assembly comprising two piezo pumps 4′ and 4″ connected to each other in series, wherein the outlet 9′ of the first piezo pump 4′ is connected to the inlet 6″ of the second piezo pump 4″. The pressure chamber 15′ of the first piezo pump 4′ is connected to the feeding line 8 by a pressure line 16′, but the pressure chamber 15″ of the second piezo pump 4″ is connected to the discharge line 11 via an additional pressure line 18.

One large advantage offered by such an embodiment is, that the risk of an hydraulic short circuit over the series of piezo pumps 4′ and 4″ is substantially reduced compared to a situation in which also the pressure chamber 15″ of the second piezo pump 4″ would be connected to the feeding line 8. In the latter case a failure of only two members (the one way outlet valve 10″ and the piezo pump diaphragm 12″ of the second piezo pump 4″) would be sufficient to cause a short circuit in which the discharge line 11 is directly connected to the feeding line 8. In the illustrated embodiment, however, a failure of four elements (both the one way inlet valve 7″ and one way outlet valve 10″ of the second piezo pump 4″ and the one way outlet valve 10″ with the one way inlet valve 7′ or with the piezo pump diaphragm 12′ of the first piezo pump 4′) is required to cause such a short circuit.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a piezo pump assembly with three piezo pumps 4′, 4″ and 4′″, wherein only the pressure chamber 15′″ of the last piezo pump 4′″ is connected to the discharge line 11. The pressure chambers of the remaining piezo pumps all are connected to the feeding line 8.

FIG. 3 in dotted lines illustrates an alternative possibility according to which the pressure chamber 15″ of the second piezo pump 4″ is connected to the outlet 9′ of the first piezo pump 4′ by a connecting line 19 (and is not connected to the feeding line 8). A similar situation may occur for the pressure chamber 15′″.

Referring to FIG. 4 a special embodiment of the piezo pump is illustrated which comprises an additional pump chamber 20 (taking the place of the pressure chamber, or stated another way is a pressure chamber that is configured to pump) at the side of the piezo pump diaphragm 12 opposite the pump chamber 5. Said additional pump chamber 20 likewise is provided with an inlet 21 provided with a one way inlet valve 22, for connection to the feeding line 8 of the pressurized circuit and an outlet 23 provided with a one way outlet valve 24, for connection to the discharge line 11 of the pressurized circuit. In this embodiment the piezo pump diaphragm 12 is common for both the pump chamber 5 and the additional pump chamber 20. The additional pump chamber 20 acts as the pressure chamber for the pump chamber 5, and the pump chamber 5 acts as a pressure chamber for the additional pump chamber 20.

In an embodiment of an piezo pump assembly illustrated in FIG. 5, two piezo pumps according to FIG. 4 are connected to each other in series (wherein the outlets of a first piezo pump are connected to the inlets of a second piezo pump). Of course it is possible to connect more than two piezo pumps in series.

Referring to FIG. 6 a schematic representation is illustrated of a piezo pump device comprising two piezo pump assemblies (one comprising two piezo pumps 25 and 26 connected in series and the other comprising two piezo pumps 27 and 28 connected in series) connected to each other in parallel. Of course more than two such piezo pump assemblies may be connected in parallel and each such piezo pump assembly may comprise any number of piezo pumps (also only one), wherein those numbers do not have to be the same for all piezo pump assemblies.

It is possible that each piezo pump or piezo pump assembly as described above has a planar configuration and wherein a number of such piezo pumps or piezo pump assemblies 29 are stacked in a planar fashion to define a pillar like structure 30 as shown in FIG. 7.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above as has been held by the courts. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A piezo pump assembly for use in a pressurized circuit, comprising: a piezo pump having a pump chamber with a pump chamber inlet provided with a one way inlet valve connected to a feeding line of the pressurized circuit and a pump chamber outlet provided with a one way outlet valve connected to a discharge line of the pressurized circuit and a piezo pump diaphragm closing one end of the pump chamber, wherein a pressure chamber is defined on a side of the piezo pump diaphragm facing away from the pump chamber; and a pressure source fluidly connected to the pump chamber.
 2. The piezo pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pressure source is defined by being fluidly connected to the feeding line with a pressure line.
 3. The piezo pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pressure source is a pressurized vessel.
 4. The piezo pump assembly comprising at least two piezo pumps according to claim 1 connected to each other in series defining at least a first piezo pump and a last piezo pump, wherein the outlet of the piezo pump is connected to an inlet of a following piezo pump.
 5. The piezo pump assembly according to claim 4, wherein the pressure source of at least the first piezo pump is fluidly connected to the feeding line and wherein a pressure source of at least the last piezo pump is defined by being fluidly connected to the discharge line with an additional pressure line.
 6. The piezo pump assembly according to claim 5, wherein only the pressure chamber of the last piezo pump is fluidly connected to the discharge line.
 7. The piezo pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein a one way inlet valve is operably coupled to the pressure chamber to allow flow into the pressure chamber through an inlet and inhibit flow out of the pressure chamber through the inlet, and wherein a one way outlet valve is operably coupled to the pressure chamber to allow flow out of the pressure chamber through an outlet and inhibit flow into the pressure chamber through the outlet.
 8. The piezo pump assembly comprising at least two piezo pumps according to claim 7 connected to each other in series, wherein the outlet of the pump chamber of the piezo pump is connected to an inlet of a pump chamber of a following piezo pump, and wherein the outlet of the pressure chamber of the piezo pump is connected to an inlet of a pressure chamber of a following piezo pump.
 9. The piezo pump assembly comprising a number of piezo pumps according to claim 1 connected to each other in parallel.
 10. The piezo pump assembly according to claim 9, wherein each piezo pump has a planar configuration and wherein the number of piezo pumps are stacked in a planar fashion to define a pillar like structure.
 11. A piezo pump assembly for use in a pressurized circuit, comprising: a pump housing having a pump chamber with a pump chamber inlet provided with a one way inlet valve connected to a feeding line of the pressurized circuit and a pump chamber outlet provided with a one way outlet valve connected to a discharge line of the pressurized circuit and a piezo pump diaphragm closing one end of the pump chamber, wherein a pressure chamber is defined in the pump housing on a side of the piezo pump diaphragm facing away from the pump chamber.
 12. A piezo pump assembly for use in a pressurized circuit, comprising: a pump housing having a first pump chamber with a first pump chamber inlet provided with a first one way inlet valve connected to a feeding line of the pressurized circuit and a first pump chamber outlet provided with a first one way outlet valve connected to a discharge line of the pressurized circuit and a piezo pump diaphragm closing one end of the pump chamber, the pump housing having further a second pump chamber on a side of the piezo pump diaphragm opposite the first pump diaphragm, the second pump chamber having a second pump chamber inlet provided with a second one way inlet valve connected to the feeding line of the pressurized circuit and a second pump chamber outlet provided with a second one way outlet valve connected to the discharge line of the pressurized circuit. 